WMA Statement on Obesity

Adopted by the 76th WMA General Assembly, Porto, Portugal, October 2025

PREAMBLE

The World Medical Association recognizes obesity as a widespread, long-term chronic disease and a global concern. The WMA notes that obesity is increasing among all age groups. Still, the rise in children including adolescents is of particular concern as earlier onset leads to worsened chronic disease burden over the life course. Obesity can affect both mental and physical health and can lead to discrimination, stigma, and bullying.

Obesity is a major health problem affecting all countries and all social and economic groups. It puts much pressure on healthcare resources. It is not an aesthetic problem, it is a medical problem that increases the risk of many other illnesses and health problems and, due to its scale and consequences, it is a public health problem of the highest priority.

Obesity’s causes are complicated and relate to changes in society and the economy, including the environment that encourages obesity. The causes of obesity may be multifaceted, encompassing various factors such as environmental influences on physical activity, biological and medical conditions, psychological factors, maternal and developmental aspects, dietary habits, and economic and social elements.

The WMA acknowledges that social determinants of health significantly contribute to obesity. These determinants partially account for the disparities observed in racial and ethnic minority groups.

Physicians can be instrumental in both preventing and treating obesity. However, their potential may be hindered by insufficient education regarding obesity or subconscious and conscious biases toward patients with obesity. This may subsequently affect the quality of care offered to patients with obesity.

The WMA emphasizes the need to stimulate and support multisectoral country-level action on obesity across the globe.

The prescription of drugs for the treatment of obesity should be based on a medical diagnosis with strictly scientific criteria.

The WMA recalls its policies on Free Sugar Consumption and Sugar-sweetened Beverages, the Global Burden of Chronic Non-Communicable Disease, and Primary Health Care. These policies provide important context and guidance for addressing the obesity epidemic.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. The WMA recommends all Medical Associations to call for policies that reduce the incidence of obesity, including:

• Learning about healthy diets in school curricula;
• Facilitating access to physical activity and sports for all parts of the population;
• Actively using consumer protection regulations to restrict marketing and raise prices of unhealthy products.

2. The WMA urges all Medical Associations to advocate for the recognition of obesity as a chronic disease requiring medical care and appropriate support, and the integration of obesity prevention, management, and treatment into national health services. All stakeholders must work together to address this global health concern.
3. The WMA calls for integrating obesity prevention, management, and treatment into Universal Health Coverage as an ‘essential health service.’ This includes access to evidence-based therapies and treatments for obesity, ensuring these services are universally available, accessible, affordable, and sustainable.
4. The WMA encourages physicians to use their leadership roles to push for obesity reduction to be a priority for national health authorities and to advocate for policies suitable for different cultures and ages, involving physicians and other key stakeholders.
5. The WMA acknowledges that there are various treatment options for patients with obesity. These range from lifestyle and behavioral changes to pharmacotherapy, medical devices, and metabolic and bariatric surgery.
6. Primary prevention is a crucial objective for physicians in addressing obesity, but only limited effective methods to achieve it are currently available. While progression of and complications associated with obesity can be prevented and treated, there is a need to develop and support additional effective strategies to reduce its incidence. We must promote health information and education based on sound scientific criteria that inform, help and support the population in the prevention and management of this disease.
7. Physicians need thorough education on obesity to fully understand the disease. This will enable them to treat it effectively, minimize prejudice and stigma, advocate for relevant policies, and lead treatment teams efficiently.
8. Physicians attending to pediatric patients should understand the specific details associated with childhood and adolescent obesity, especially the necessity for prevention and early intervention. They should be able to identify rare types of obesity, as failure to do so can result in detrimental health consequences.
9. The WMA recommends a multisectoral approach, based on the principles of primary health care, to prevent, treat, and manage obesity. This approach involves various sectors, including health, education, and social services, with physicians playing a crucial role in this multisectoral approach.
10. The WMA encourages its Constituent Members and physicians to advocate for healthy diet, to promote regular physical exercise and to combat diet and nutrition misinformation spread particularly on social networks.
11. The WMA calls for firm action against self-proclaimed therapists and unproven therapies.